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Phyllis Kachere in ARUSHA, Tanzania
About 40 journalists from African countries are meeting here on a sensitisation workshop on the activities of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. Addressing media participants yesterday, president of the African Court of Justice Sophia Akuffo appealed for more coverage of the court’s activities.

“In every democratic society, the courts play a key role in the upholding of the rule of law and ensuring justice, thereby, contributing significantly to the maintenance of peace and stability,” she said.

“The media play a crucial role in publicising the activities of the courts and bridging the gap between them and the public.”

The African Court was created by the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the establishment of an African Court to complement the mandate of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in the protection of human rights on the continent. The African Court became operational in 2006 and has its seat here.

To date, only 26 countries have ratified the protocol establishing the court, with Zimbabwe yet to do so.

Apart from ratifying the protocol, a State party has to make a declaration accepting the competence of the court to directly receive cases from individuals and non-governmental organisations.

Justice Akuffo said only seven countries out of the 26 had made such a declaration.“For citizens of a country to access justice at this court, the country has to ratify and make the declaration,” she said. “Only citizens from seven countries are accessing justice from this court.” The countries are Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda and Tanzania.